How to Avoid Spending Too Much on Your Next BBQ Grill

Written by Peter on June 13, 2011 · Leave a Comment

iStock 000012351674XSmall1Getting a grill can be a big expense.  You want to get a good grill for your needs, but you simply can’t afford – and don’t want to pay – the high prices the local retailers are demanding.  With some smart shopping, you can get a grill that will fit all your needs, without draining your budget.  Here’s some ways that you can do this.

Are you afraid of shopping online?  You really shouldn’t be.  Online shopping can be just as safe as shopping at a local store.  And the great thing about online shopping is that you can find much better deals, in general.  Many online retailers will also offer your free shipping on your purchases.  On the whole, you will have more options and so will have a better chance of finding the exact grill you want.

Knowing when to shop is also an important part of getting a good deal on a BBQ grill.  You’re more likely to get a better price when retailers, both local and online, are pushing for sales.  These include on minor holidays, such as Labor Day, before outdoor holidays such as July 4th, and during inventory reduction times, such as after Christmas sales.  At these times, stores are practically begging you to buy a grill and will sell them to you at a discount for sure.

If you’re willing to get last year’s model or buy a model that’s about to be replaced, you’re also sure to save some money.  You may at first be against this, but think about it.  Things like cars tend to change dramatically from year to year.  But BBQ grills don’t work the same way.  The models from year to year don’t change much.  No one will know, for example, that you got a 2011 Weber instead of a 2012 Weber.  But you’ll know because you saved some money.

Buying a grill doesn’t have to be a huge expense.  If you know how to shop for one, you can really get a great deal.  Now go out and find your great deal today.

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A Whole New Way of Grilling

Written by Peter on May 29, 2011 · Leave a Comment

smokerIf you want to get the best out of barbecuing, you’ll want a grill that can do it all.  At first, you may think that that means buying a grill with a top rack or a mini refrigerator below – all the bells and whistles.  But you’d be forgetting a critical part of barbecue: smoking.  The only way to get a genuine, home-cooked smokey taste is to use a smoker grill.  Here’s a little bit about why you should want a smoker grill.

Flavor is important in grilling.  People spend lots of time adding flavor before grilling, through marinating and basting.  What they don’t realize is that they could cut down on a lot of that, especially the unnatural flavoring such as “liquid smoke” additive, by smoking their food instead.  This will give the food flavor naturally.  You will be enjoying the natural tastes of hickory and mesquite which soak into your food over time.

Smoking is also a safer way of cooking food than grilling.  With grilling meat, you cook the food at high temperatures over a short period of time.  With smoking, however, you cook the food over low heat over a longer period of time, so there’s no chance of burning or scorching the food like there is with conventional grilling.

Smoker grilling is also the most versatile way of cooking.  In addition to cooking meat, you can also smoke vegetables.  Because of the great flavor, this may encourage you to eat healthier.  Speaking of which, smoker grilling is a great way to get a lot of flavor without pushing up the calories, like sauteing or frying.

Now that you’ve seen how great smoker grilling is – in terms of flavor, reliability, and versatility – you may be thinking that you’ll have to buy a whole separate grill just for smoking.  But you’d be surprised to hear that many of the better grills can do both conventional grilling and be converted into a quality smoker.

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Don’t Buy a BBQ Grill Without Checking These Three Things

Written by Peter on May 13, 2011 · Leave a Comment

chicken on the grill e1307917547818Purchasing a grill can be quite an undertaking nowadays.  There are so many choices, and, unless you go with a tiny charcoal grill, all of them are a significant investment.  You want to get the right outdoor BBQ grill that will meet the needs of your family, but you don’t know where to start.  After reading this article, you will be prepared to step out on the floor of your local hardware store – or browse online – for the ideal grill for your needs.

The most important part of the grill is the heat source, and, in the same way, the most important part of picking a grill is choosing the right heat source for you.   There are three main choices – charcoal, propane, and natural gas – which are, in that order, cheapest to most expensive.  Before you jump the gun and select charcoal, consider that that heat source takes the longest time to cook with.  You’ll want to consider carefully before landing on your final choice of heat source.

You’ll also need to decide what size grill you want.  Salesmen may try to sell you the largest grill they have on the showroom floor, but that really might not be necessary for you.  In reality, you only need a grill surface the size of your hand to cook for one person.  So multiply that by the number of people you are typically grilling for and that will give you a good idea of how large the grill surface needs to be.

Finally, note the btu (British Thermal Units) of each grill you look at.  This is a measure of heat output that the grill can produce.  A higher btu is not necessarily a good thing since that might lead to charred food and high propane tank or natural gas bills.

Now that you know something about heat sources, grill sizes, and heat output, you know a little more about selecting the perfect grill for your family.  Go out and purchase with confidence.

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Essential Maintenance for Your Weber Grill

Written by Peter on April 28, 2011 · Leave a Comment

weber grill weather e1307917832760Now that you have your coveted Weber grill, you will need to know how to maintain it.  Maintenance is simple, but must be done diligently, otherwise your investment in your prized grill will be for nothing.  Follow these maintenance guidelines, and you’ll be enjoying your Weber grill for years to come.

The most important piece of maintenance is cleaning.  After every use, you’ll need to scrape the grill surface.  This may seem like a hassle, but trust me:  if you don’t, you won’t enjoy your grill as much.  Your food just won’t taste right because of all the residue you leave on your grill.  A grill scraper is what you’ll need to clean the grill after each use.  You can pick one up online or at a local store.  One might even be included in a grill parts set that you already own.

Once a year, you’re going to have to get a little dirty.  At that time, you’ll need to take your grill apart piece by piece to make sure everything is in order and to clean parts that you aren’t able to reach after you use the grill each time.  If you don’t feel confident that you can take apart and properly reassemble your grill, you’ll need to take it in to a Weber grill specialist and have them do the job.

Finally, if there are any changes in your Weber grill, take them seriously.  If the flame ever burns a different color, don’t mess around.  There could be something wrong.  Also, if you ever have a part break, you don’t have to settle for a broken grill or throw the whole thing out.  Weber sells replacement parts to all their grills.

As you can see, maintenance is simple but important, and with it, your Weber grill will last for many years and many yummy steaks.

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Charcoal Grill Features You Can’t Live Without

Written by Peter on April 12, 2011 · Leave a Comment

charcoal grill e1307924317954Because of their superior taste and relatively inexpensive price-tag, charcoal grills are some of the most popular grilling types.  For this reason, this type also has the highest number of options and choices.  When you’re out shopping for a charcoal grill, there are a few features, in my opinion at least, that you won’t want to go without.

First of all, I don’t recommend that you store your grill outside.  Unless you want to invest in a good grill cover and bring the grill in every time you have a storm, you’ll want to have a place to store your grill, such as a shed, a covered back porch, or a space in your garage.  To make storing your grill more convenient, you’ll want your grill to have wheels.  That way you don’t have to lug your grill around and risk back injury.  Wheels are definitely a feature that you’ll want to have in your charcoal grill.

The next feature also will make your life easier.  One of the things people complain about most with a charcoal grill is how long it takes to light successfully.  If you get a charcoal grill with a built-in igniter, you can cut down on the time and hassle.  You will also not have to use as much lighter fluid, which many people complain can make their food taste funny.

When you’re done grilling, clean-up is an important part of maintaining your grill.  With many models which are of a very cheap and simple design, you would have to wait til the grill cools off sufficiently before dumping the contents in a trash can.  As you can imagine, this is a tedious and awkward process and usually involves making a huge mess.  To avoid all this, you can get an ash-pan that allows for access from the bottom of the grill.  This will make clean-up much simpler.

Charcoal grilling is definitely the classic choice.  With a few features, you can have a grilling experience that is easy and makes great tasting food.

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